Rotary compressor



July 31, 1951 L. F. CLERC ROTARY COMPRESSOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5, 1945 NVENTOR LEONARD CL ERC ATTORNEY July 31, 1951 Filed Dec. 3, 1945 L. F. CLERC 562,698

ROTARY COMPRESSOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 25A ,Il :16% 29A Fi? 12 "Nm/TOR 5o/VAR@ E CLERC WMM ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE 2,562,698 l ROTARY GOMPRESSR Leonora F. clero, Nunes, N. J. Application ecember 3, 1945, 'Serial No. 632,3@

Y roiem; -(C1. 23o-152) This invention relates to compressors, and particularly to compressors 'of the rotary type' employing varies.

An object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character indicated, in which there is a cain action to positively control the movement of the varies during an operating cycle.

' Another object of the invention is the provision of a device' ofthe character' indicated, which has a cam action for' controlling Ythe movement of the vanes, and a series of rollers for guiding the varies, Whereby'the friction generating contacting surfaces between the vanes and the rotor are reduced to a minimum.

Another object ci the invention is the pro'- vision of a device of the character indicated, in which the ends ofthe Vanes are maintained in predetermined spaced relation with the rotor and the inside surface of the housing at all vtimes throughout the operating cycle.

Another object of the invention is the pro= vision of a rotary compressor, in which all moving parts are lubricated through the action of the suction cycle of vthe device.

Another object of the inventionv is the provision of a device of the character indicated, which is compact in size, economical to nien-'ue facture, easy 'toassemblaand highly .efficient in operation.

Another object of the invention is the prvision of a' device of the characterindicated, in which the centrifugal force on the varies is controlled by means of rollers engaging a cam surface.

The foregoing and Otherobjects and advantages of ythe vinvent'icir'i Will become more apparent as the description proceeds, reference being made from time to time tothe accornpanyf ing drawing forming part of the within disclosure, in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a; vertical sectionalV view of a device embodying my invention taken on the line I-i ofFig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a viewtaken substantially on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1.

Fig 3. is a fragmentary section takenY stomieuy on. the une 3T3 of Fie. v2.

Fig. 4 is` section'V taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on line 1--1 of Fig. 8 showing a modified form of my device.

Fig. s is e section ,teken on the une sof Figi y Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9;-9 of Figs. "Fig. i0' is 'a section taken on the line lll-l0 Aof Fig' 82 Fig. l1 is a perspective View of one of the vaii'es employed in the modification shown in Fi'gs. 7 arida' y Fig. 12 is 'a'sectioii taken `the' line |2-I'2 of Fig. s.

' Referring 'now more gardener-1y to draw# ings (Figs. 1 endg) it white-'understood that `in tneemloodiment nereinnis'dosed, myA compressor" consists ofa li'ous'iiigli; 'a rotor mand a cove'i plete |1,`tne latter being secured to .theihousing shaft but eccentrict inside of' the h usfLAV ing ls`r and the cover piste 111i vThe fotone `.1skeyed as at 21 to the shaft 2 5 anc i.S adlbteit rotgtte therewith- The rotor Yrs Yis provided with e Vpiumino or radially diSD'Sed Sl-OSn 28', in vvliich are adapted to reeiproeate thevanes'ta, tneietter beine pro; i

vided'vitn transvefse piii sj3, on the ends'of which are inonnted'rollers' 3l which are adapted to engage' com groove' azvfor'meo in the inner wenofftgiie housing' 155 f f f Mounted s uitebiereo'es'sesga formed in the rotor i6', on eithersid of 4thi-ifslots Q28, are rollers 3 4, which Vrc'ille'rs are 's'upported" on shafts 3 5 adapted to'rengage suitab'ire's formed in the rotor itsf (Fiel 3i.

The roners .g are crowned es shown in nig;

opening 31 and an outlet opening 38 which is spaced more than degrees beyond the intake opening 31. The inlet opening 31 communicates with a tapered slot 39 formed on the inside wall of the housing I 5, which permits a full charge of gas to be interposed between each vane and theV mounted ooneetrioeiiy on thel vane following as the vanes pass the inlet opening 31. The length of the slot 39 is approximately equal to the distance between the centers of the outer ends of adjacent pairs of vanes.

I prefer to lubricate the device by means of an opening 40 in the housing l5 immediately below the intake opening 31 and a tube 4I which extends into the end of the shaft 25 and communicates with a plurality of radialpassageways 42, formed in the shaft 25, which radial passageways communicate with a groove 43 and a plurality of radial bores 44 formed in the rotor I6, there being one bore 44 communicating with each vane slot 28, whereby upon each revolution of the rotor I6, the suction created causes a predetermined amount of lubricating medium to be drawn into the interior of the device.

In Figs. 7 to 12, inclusive, I disclose a modified form of the invention, which is similar to the construction just described, except that in this embodiment I eliminate the cam groove 32, transverse pins 30, and the rollers 3l, and instead I provide a roller 45 at the end of each vane 29. In other respects, the housing 15A, the rotor IBA, the cover plate 11A, and the shaft 25A are constructed in the same manner as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2.

'In this embodiment, the vanes 29A are machined at their ends to engage the rollers 45, which are adapted to contact the inside surface of the housing ISA. The guide rollers 34A are cylindrical in shape and are adapted to engage wide grooves 46 formed in the vanes 29A. The eiect of the rollers 45 contacting the inside surface of the housing |5A serves as a cam action to move the varies 29A inwardly against the centrifugal force which tends to move them toward the housing.

In the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, the rollers 3| and cam groove 32 cooperate to hold the vanes 29 so that there is a slight clearance between the vanes 29 and the inside surface of the housing I5, which clearance is sealed by the lubricating medium hereinabove referred to.

In the modification shown in Figs. 7 and 8, there is a contact between the rollers 45 and the inside surface of the housing I5A. In the modied form, the lubricating medium will seal the required clearance between the rollers 45 and the vanes 29A.

Aside from the differences indicated above, the two structures will function in substantially the same manner, that is, as each vane is rotated into charging position, there is an impact between the vane 29 and the gas entering through the opening 31. As the vane continues past the opening 31, it creates a suction which causes further gas to be drawn into the slot 39 so that when the next succeeding vane reaches the position of impact, there is a full charge of gas between the vane and the preceding vane. As each vane receives its complete charge of gas, it carries its charge to a position substantially at the top center of the housing, at which instant the compression cycle commences. The compression of the gases continues in increased effectiveness until the gases are completely compressed and ready to be discharged through the opening 38.

With this device, I have been able to establish a high degree of efficiency because of the positive control of the vanes and the substantial absence of friction between the moving parts.

With a device constructed and arranged as herein disclosed, I am able to obtain the maximum compressing action because of the positive control of the vanes. Particularly is this true in the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, where the reciprocation of the vanes is positively controlled by the cam action.

The outer cam surface of the groove 32 in Figs. l and 2 is particularly eective in improving the over-all capacity of this device for the reason that it positively moves the varies 29 inwardly as the compression increases. The force of the increasing compression of the gases on the leading face of the vanes, together with the normal force of centrifugal action developed in conventional structures, causes the vanes to bind and ultimately freeze in position and causes undue wear, which rapidly reduces the efliciency of the device and requires greater motive power.

This positive movement of the vanes also improves the lubricating action of the device inasmuch as the inward movement of the vanes increases the pressure'on the oil in the groove helping to force it around the vanes. This also effects a cushioning action at the end of the vanes which decreases the vibration of the parts and makes the operation of the compressor more quiet.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a device of the character described, including a housing having a rotor with radial slots therein and reciprocating varies in said slots, the combination of a pair of recesses in said rotor in communication with each of said radial slots, and rollers in said recesses arranged to contact the sides of said vanes, said rollers being crowned, and said vanes being grooved to accommodate said crowns.

LEONARD F. CLERC.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 105,318 Dougherty July 12, 1870 115,254 Tenant May 23, 1871 232,559 Smith Sept. 21, 1880 601,916 Triplett Apr. 5, 1898 187,988 Moore Apr. 25, 1905 852,817 Berrenberg et al. May 7, 1

1,058,108 Shaw Apr. 8, 1913 1,339,723 Smith May 11, 1920 1,352,750 Y Jackson Sept. 14, 1920 1,584,207 Bell May 11, 1926 1,635,006 Oliver July 5, 1921v 1,697,924 Lusso Jan. 8, 1929 2,013,777 Dennedy Sept. 10, 1935 2,068,918 Kagi Jan. 26, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 549,985 Great Britain May 7, 1932 

